Mystery deepens over Bahrain boy's death

Manama, September 2, 2011

Mystery deepened over the death of a 14-year-old boy in Sitra as the coroner's report revealed he had died of a serious blow to neck and his injuries were not due to a tear gas canister hit or rubber bullet as some have claimed.

An appeal also went out for help in identifying the people who took Ali Jawad Ahmad's body to Sitra Health Centre and then disappeared.

Preliminary investigations show that the death was a suspected criminal act, police said.

The coroner's report reveals that the boy died of a serious blow to the neck and his injuries are not consistent with being hit by a tear gas canister or rubber bullet as some have claimed, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier Tariq Hassan told a Press conference at the Information Affairs Authority headquarters in Isa Town.

There were also no traces of tear gas in his lungs or on his clothes.

Ali's other injuries comprised bruising in his mouth area, and bruising on his chin, elbows and pelvis.

The coroner also concluded that the way these injuries were inflicted suggests that he may have been attacked, though this has yet to be verified.

Some witnesses have given information on the three people who brought in the body, Brig Hassan said.

He urged the three to make themselves known so they can share the information they may have on how the boy died.

A BD10,000 reward has already been announced for anyone with information that could trap the killer and a hotline (80008008) has been opened for potential witnesses, he said.

He called for calm in response to the death and regretted that some societies and groups were politicising the tragedy.

The ministry will keep the public informed of all new developments on the incident, he said.

Brig Hassan said the Public Prosecution had confirmed that there were no reported clashes between the police and civilians in Sitra at the time.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry has the mandate to investigate the case but it is their decision whether they see it under their scope, he said.-TradeArabia News Service